Dyeing apparatus



(No Model.) 3 Sheets- Sheet 1.

'J. P; WILMOT.

DYEING APPARATUS.

No. 441,528. Patente gi N0v.25, 1890.

All-L 0 IIIIIII "1 (NqModel 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. F. WILMOT. DYEING APPARATUS.

No. 441,528. A Patented Nov.25, 1890.

(No Model 3 b e e h S w e e h S 3 w T n MR u P WA .G m n D Patented Nov.25, 1890.

- NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. WILMOT, OF RAHlVAY, NEW JERSEY.

DYEING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 441,528, dated November25, 1890.

Application filed October 3, 1890. Serial No. 366,965. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. W'ILMOT, of Rahway, in the county of Union,and in the State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Dyeing Apparatus; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a Viewof my apparatus in side elevation; Fig. 2, aplan view of the same; Fig.3, a detail perspective view of a portion of the apparatus on anenlarged scale; Fig. 4, an enlarged detail view, in side elevation,showing the manner of turning the sticks and the movements of thelatter; Fig. 5, a detail view, in end elevation, of a modified form ofstick; and Fig. 6, a detail perspective View of a portion of anothermodification of the stick.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of thefigures.

The object of my invention is to provide certain improvements inmachines for dyeing silk, cotton, wool, &c., in skeins; and to this endmy invention consists in the apparatus and the parts thereof,constructed, arranged, and combined as hereinafter specified.

It has been my special purpose in making the present invention to devisea machine which, while capable of being used in connection with eitheropen or closed vats, without the use of complicated machinery, dangerousgearing, or innumerable pieces, such as exist in dyeing apparatus asheretofore made, shall move and manipulate the skeins of silk or othermaterial so as to secure the best and most uniform and complete actionof the dye upon them. In order to make certain of securing this desiredaction, I have, as will be seen by the drawings and descriptionhereinafter given, arranged the skein holding and moving parts of theapparatus so that they which, while shown as an open one, may

be closed instead, if desired. Attached to posts B B outside of the vatare the two longitudinal bars 0 0, having on their upper sides a seriesof inclines c c, all extending in the same direction. These inclines,with the abrupt upright faces between them, give the bars the appearanceof being provided with series of ratchet-teeth, the teeth on one-barbeing opposite to those on the other. Between the bars is a movableframe D,having on its outer sides rollers d d or rounded studs to engagethe inclines on the respective bars 0 0. While I have shown a number ofthese inclines and engaging rollers, I contemplate using less, ifdesired. For instance, there might without departure from my inventionbe only two of the surfaces on each bar, adapted to be engaged bycorresponding rollers situated near the ends of the sides of the frameD.

To prevent wear of the inclined surfaces as the frame-supporting rollerstravel up and down them, facing-strips c c of brass or other metal areused. Connected with the opposite sides of said frame D are the pitmen EE, driven by the crank-wheels E E on the shaft E which in turn is drivenby a pulley E or other suitable gearing, to be connected by a belt orotherwise with any desired form of motor. The stroke of the pitmanshould be such as to carry the framerollers (Z (Z from the lower ends ofthe inclines well up on the latter, but not beyond their highest points.\Vith the construction so far described, as the shaft E is revolved theframe D will be reciprocated back andforth, and will at the same time begiven a risingand-falling motion.

Resting upon and detachably held to the frame D, so as to move with it,is the holder F for the skein-receiving rotary sticks G G. \Vhile anydesired form of means for detach ably fastening the stick-holder uponits carrier, as the frame D, can be employed without departure from myinvention, I prefer to provide said carrier with the angle-pieces d d,adapted to receive and engage the corners of the stick-holder, as shownin the drawings.

Each stick G is provided on its ends with bearings g g to rest innotches or open slots f f in the upper sides of the side bars of theholder. To retain the stick-bearings in such notches, said bars havepieces (I d adapted to be moved over the upper ends of the notches.These pieces can be in the form of springs to be raised away from thebar-tops when the stick-bearings are to be removed from the holder, orcan be pivoted, so as to be swung into or out of position to close saidnotches. The sticks are made triangular in cross-section in order thatas little of their peripheries as possible may be in contact with theparts of the skeins resting upon them.

Three constructions of stick are shown in the drawings. Onehas its facesbetween the angles concaved or grooved longitudinally. Another, as shownin Fig. 5, has flat sides. The third form (see Fig. 6) is made of plaintriangular heads or ends g g, connected at or near their angles by thethree rods g g 9 In order to give the sticks a third of a revolutioneach time that the carriage D is moved so as to carry its rollers (Z (Zup the inclines on bars 0 G, I provide on the inside of the vat or onany suitable support the pawls a a one for each stickhaving their upperends projecting up into the paths of the lower sides of the sticks asthe latter travel with the holder and carriage. A stop-pin a, for eachpawl serves to hold th e same from being moved by the respective stickas the latter travels in the direction indicated by the arrow in thedrawings, while leaving it free to yield as the stick engages it againduring the return move ment of the holder and carriage.

Vhile spring-pawls are shown, I desire it to be understood that pivotedones can be used instead, being held up in operative position againsttheir stop-pins either by springs or weights.

To hold the sticks normally in position with one angle upward for theskeins to rest upon, while allowing them to be turned, as describedabove, at one point in the motion of the stickholder, I provide anelastic band II, of rubber or other suitable material, attached atopposite ends to the end bars of the holder F, and extending along underthe sticks so as to bear against the under sides thereof, as shown inthe drawings.

The operation of my machine or apparatus constructed as described andshown is as follows: The sticks, being removed from the holder F, areinserted in the skeins of silk or other material to be dyed, and arethen put back with their bearings g g inserted in the holder-notches ff,where they are held by the retainingpieces d (F, turned or moved oversaid notches. \Vhen the stick-holder has been put in place on thecarriage D, with the skeins hanging down in the vat, the shaft E isstarted, and the pitmen draw the carriage and holder on the lattertoward the end of the frame where the shaft is situated. This movementcauses the rollers (Z (Z to ride up the inclines c 0, so that thecarriage, stick-holder, and sticks are given an upward as well aslongitudinal motion with reference to the frame. As the rollers thustravel up the inclines, the sticks are by the engagements of theirlowcrsides with the upper ends of the pawls a a. given a one-third turn, soas to bring another angle of each stick upward and change the positionof the skeins in the vat. As the carriage and stick-holder are movedback again,the carriage-rollers run down the inclines, and the pawls,yielding, allow the sticks to pass without further turning. The elasticstrip II, engaging the. fiat under side of each stick, or the two lowerangles thereof, serves to prevent rotation of the sticks until the pawlsare engaged again during another longitudinal and upward motion of theholder.

It will be observed that by my machine constructed, arranged, andoperating as set forth the movement of the skeins by the sticks is likethat which is given them by the hand of the dyer in the old hand processof dyein The skeins are lifted and then moved so as to immerse newportions of them in the dyeingliquid in the vat. This manipulation hasbeen found to secure the most free and complete access of the dye to thediiferent portions of material treated and the most uniform and perfectdyeing action. Vhen the operation of the machine has been continued longenough, the driving-shaft is stopped, and the sticks are lifted from theholder for removal of the skeins. New skeins are then put on them andthey are replaced in the holder.

My machine as shown and described is simple and cheap in construction,is easy to operate, has no parts or gearing to get out of order, anddoes the desired work in thoroughly subjecting the skeins to the actionof the dye in the most rapid and efficient way. It is ca pable ofhandling a large number of skeins at a time and causing them to be alltreated alike.

With my skeiirsupporting sticks of the special shape shown, normallyheld with the angles or sharp corners upward, a very desirable result isproducedthat is, only the smallest possible amount of the surface of thesticks will be in contact with the skeins, and the circulation of thedye through the parts of the skein will consequently be unimpeded andmost thorough.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a dyeingapparatus, in combination with a suitable frame or holder, one or morerotary skein-holding sticks made triangular in cross-section and meansfor holding such sticks normally turned so as to bring one of theirangles or corners upward when they are not being rotated, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a dyeing apparatus, in combination with a suitable frame orholder, one or more rotary skein-holding sticks made triangular IIC tiestrip attached to the frame and extending along in contact with theunder side of the sticks, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

4. In a dyeing apparatus, in combination with a reciprocating holder,one or more retary sticks carried thereby, and pawl mechanism to rotatethe stick or sticks as the holder moves in one direction and leave themunturned during the holders return movement, substantially as and forthe purpose specified.

5. In a dyeing apparatus, in combination with the movable frame orholder and the rotary skein-receiving sticks carried thereby, and pawls,one for each of the sticks, adapted to engage portions of the latter toturn them as the frame or holder moves, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

6. In a dyeing apparatus, in combination with the movable holder and therotary skeinreceiving sticks carried thereby, made angular incross-section, the pawls, one for each stick, adapted to engage portionsof the sticks and rotate them as the holder is moved in one direction,substantially as and for the purpose described.

'7. In a dyeing apparatus, in combination with the movable stick-holderand the rotary triangular skein-receiving sticks journaled thereon, apawl for each stick adapted to positively engage the sticks and turnthem through one-third of a rotation only asthe holder moves in onedirection, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

8. In a dyeing apparatus, in combination with the movable holder havinga to-and-fro movement, one or more rotary sticks triangular incross-section carried by the holder, a yielding stop device for holdingeach stick with one of its angles turned upward when such stick is atrest, and pawl mechanism for giving each stick a partial rotation as theholder moves in one direction, substantially as and for the purposeshown.

9. In a dyeing apparatus, in combination with the movable holder and thetriangular skein -receiving sticks journaled therein, pawls topositively engage the forward edges of the under sides of the sticks asthe holder moves in one direction, and the elastic strip bearing upagainst such under sides, substantially as and for the purpose shown.

10. In a dyeing apparatus, in combination with the movable carriage andmeans for reciprocating it, inclines on a stationary support, andguiding and supporting devices on the carriage engaging the inclines, sothat the carriage is caused to rise and fall as it is reciprocated,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

11. In a dyeing apparatus, in combination with the moving carriageprovided with rollers, stationary inclines engaged by the rollers, andaholder for the material to be dyed, supported from the carriage,substantially as and for the purpose described.

12. In a dyeing apparatus, in combination with the movable carriageprovided with supporting and guiding rollers, stationary inclinesengaged by the rollers, and the frame carrying the skein-supportingsticks, supported on and moving with the carriage, substantially as andfor the purpose specified.

13. In a dyeing apparatus, in combination with the series of stationaryinclines, the carriage. having supporting and guiding devices engagingthe inclines, and the skein-receiving stick-holder detachably held onthe carriage, so as to move with it, substantially as and for thepurpose shown.

14. In a dyeing apparatus, in combination with one or more rotataryskein-receiving sticks and a movable carriage from which the sticks aresupported and with which they move, cam devices for causing the carriageto rise and fall as it is reciprocated,the pawls in the paths ofportions of the sticks to engage and turn the latter partly as thecarriage is moved in the direction to cause its rising, and means forreciprocating the carriage, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

15. In a dyeing apparatus, in combination with a movable carriageprovided with rollers, stationary inclines engaged by the latter, one ormore rotary skein-receiving sticks supported from and traveling with thecarriage, and pawls in the paths of portions of the sticks adapted toengage the latter and give them a partial turn as the carriage moves tocause its rollers to ride up the inclines, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

16. In a dyeing apparatus, in combination with a vat for the die, areciprocating frame over the same, provided with rollers on its sides,stationary inclines engaged by the rollers, the stick-holder on thecarriage, the rotary skein-receiving sticks journaled on the holder, thepawls to engage portions of the sticks and turn them partly as thecarriagerollers ride up the inclines, means for hold ing the sticksnormally with one angle or corner upward while allowing them to beturned by the pawls, and means for reciprocating the carriage,substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this26th day of September, 1890.

JOHN F. WILMOT. Witnesses:

HENRY O. HAZARD, CHAS. J. WILLIAMSON.

